Station 15: Episode 52 — Pope speaks to NZ bishops…and the world
In the first episode of 2012, the panel chats about Pope Benedict’s speech to bishops from New Zealand and the Pacific, his speech to the dozens of ambassadors to the Vatican and the surging Catholic candidate for the Republican presidential candidate. We also talk about the “head-hunting” of an Australian priest to be the new rector of the New Zealand diocesan seminary. For some additional reading, here’s a link to a piece on former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. And for some additional listening, here’s an ABC Radio interview with Msgr Peter Jeffrey.
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Station XV: Episode 51 — Happy news, smiling Pope, Happy Christmas
In this month’s episode of The 15th Station, the two-man panel of James and Gavin connects from each side of the Tasman Sea to discuss some of the big stories of the past month. The New Zealand bishops are in Rome for their ad limina visit, there’s talk of a full diocesan seminary in Auckland and we reflect on what Catholic News Service has found to be the biggest stories of 2011. There’s also time to chat about a complicated situation in New South Wales about admission protocols for a Catholic school in New South Wales, but we finish with a story that even brought a smile to the Pope’s face. On behalf of the team that makes The 15th Station possible, we wish you all a Happy and Holy Christmas and best wishes for a great 2011 — with more Station 15 podcasts as your New Year’s Resolution.
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Station XV: Episode 50 — Elections, succession and ammunition
In this, the 50th episode of The 15th Station, the panel discusses the upcoming New Zealand general election, including the views of the two main parties’ leaders on a contentious moral issue, as well as changes to the closeness of Catholics to Britain’s throne, a call for better homilies and plea from bishops in the US to parishioners that they don’t “pack heat” when they head to church. Never a dull moment on the 50th episode of New Zealand’s first Catholic podcast.
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Station XV: Episode 49 — Pope goes home, St Steve Jobs?
In this month’s episode of The 15th Station, our transTasman panel talks about Pope Benedict’s recent trip to his homeland, the uncertainty over Christchurch’s Catholic cathedral and the hype surrounding the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. We also touch on two very different stories: A priest in Ireland returning to ministry after being falsely accused of rape and an Anglican church in Wellington portraying Jesus as an rugby-ball toting All Black. All in a month’s work.
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Station XV: Episode 48 — Name and shame, wine and dine
In this week’s episode of The 15th Station, the panel spans the Tasman Sea — and so do the stories up for discussion. In Australia, a senator has used parliamentary privilege to name a priest accused of rape 50 years ago. In New Zealand, Rugby World Cup fever seems to have carried over into the Church. We also talk about eating with the Pope, and changing the way we record the date. All in our inaugural international episode.
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15 Minutes with the Bishop: Hell
Is it a place of fire and brimstone, or wailing and gnashing of teeth? Is it a place that is simply an absence of God? Whatever the reality, the Catholic Church continues to hold to the idea of a place called Hell. What is the Church’s understanding of Hell? Has it changed over the years? How does a loving God allow people to end up in Hell? Bishop Patrick talks with Gavin about those questions in the latest episode of 15 Minutes with the Bishop.
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15 Minutes with the Bishop: Augustine and Monica
Over the next two days, the Catholic Church honours a couple of great figures in Christian history: St Augustine and his mother, St Monica. St Augustine is often seen as a bit of a prodigal son — someone who strayed but then returned to the Faith. As Bishop Patrick points out in this week’s episode of 15 Minutes with the Bishop, how far Augustine strayed might be at question, but his mark on the early Church is not in dispute. Neither is the faith of his mother, who prayed constantly for her son’s conversion back to the religion she tried to pass on to him.
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15 Minutes with the Bishop: Holy Days
Last week, Catholics in New Zealand celebrated the Feast of the Assumption, and last week’s episode of 15 Minutes with the Bishop was on that topic. This week, Bishop Patrick talks about holy days of obligation, of which the Assumption is one in New Zealand and in some other countries around the world. How has the number of holy days changed? Is Sunday a holy day of obligation? And what about the idea in the UK of re-instating holy days of obligation?
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Station XV: Episode 47 — Irish eyes aren’t smiling
In our fourth birthday episode, we discuss the ongoing saga in Ireland as the Church there continues to battle through the sex abuse crisis and its fallout. Stinging criticism from the Irish Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Dublin’s response are on the agenda, as is the subsequent suggestion that priests should be forced to disclose confessions of those admitting to having abused children. On a happier note, we preview this week’s World Youth Day in Madrid and check out a new website causing a stir in Germany.
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